Wang Chih Kang, chairman of the Taipei World Trade Center, and staff of the pavilion turn of the lights.

The Taiwan Pavilion held a "lights out" ceremony at 10:40pm Sunday. Wang Chih Kang, chairman of the Taipei World Trade Center, led the staff around the pavilion one last time before holding a countdown and turning off the lights.

Wang expressed gratitude for the support of visitors and the hard work of pavilion staff.

The pavilion's closure was "temporary" and it will reopen in Hsinchu city in Taiwan a year later as an innovation and exhibition center, Wang said.

Hsinchu bought the pavilion for nearly NT$459 million (US$14.45 million) through bidding on September 16. The city will erect the pavilion in an old fertilizer factory and create an industrial innovation park there to showcase the city's history, culture, folk art and tradition.

The pavilion staff will immediately work for the 2010 International Flora Exposition to be held in Taipei from November 6 to April 25 next year.